Aid Juanita Matthews' Path to Healing

Hello⁰⁰

Have you ever heard of Inflammatory Myositis? I hadn't until 2 months ago when my sister, Juanita Matthews, went to the ER.

My name is Laura Higdon, and I am hoping to raise money to help with my sister's medical expenses. After years of doctor's appointments with no help or answers, she was taken by ambulance to St. Vincent, unable to walk. After weeks of testing, she was diagnosed with Inflammatory Myositis. Due to her getting so bad before diagnosis, she was unable to swallow and landed in the ICU on a ventilator. Very scary time for me. She is getting released from the hospital after 55 days to a rehabilitation center. Then with PT, hopefully to my house. They had to put on a G-tube due to her trouble swallowing, and I'm not sure how much mobility she will have in the future.

She is 58, so she isn't immediately on Medicaid, and as of this March, she will have zero income. I hope she can get on disability, but as of now, we only have my income. I just found out it will cost $250 a day for rehabilitation we have enough for a little over a week.

Below is a list of needed items, and I have no idea how much the hospital bills will cost, but I'm guessing it will be a lot. I appreciate anything, money or items, I will need.

Most important:

Hospital bed

Wheelchair

I'm not even sure exactly yet, but if you have any suggestions, that would be great. Anything helps, and I appreciate you reading my story.

I will answer any questions you may have.